Joanne Zerdy’s Portfolio

Writing Sample: Celebrating (with) our dead: Samhain and Dia de los muertos [blog post]

This blog interweaves personal reflections as a grieving parent with the history of cultural practices related to ancestors, death, and communal celebrations. Specifically, I look at the roots of the Celtic traditions of Samhain/Samhuinn and the elements of Día de los Muertos celebrated widely throughout Mexico and elsewhere by those of Mexican heritage.

This is the most engaged blog post on our website. To date, it has been viewed 2470 times.

newsletter Sample: Inviting Abundance E-news (May 2022)

This newsletter contains an opening piece entitled “Repairing Social Infrastructures,” that introduces two potential models (one from the performing arts and one from disaster relief) to consider for strengthening communities across the U.S.

It also shares news of our upcoming online classes and workshops, as well as invited talks. Finally, the newsletter introduces readers to a new item in our shop: unique hand-stamped grief postcards that I commissioned from Portland-based artist Anna Van Rooy.

Social Media: Instagram account - @invitingabundance

I design the majority of our social media posts with Canva. They typically feature a blend of advertisements for upcoming events and quotations related to grief, healing, education, and community. I also share my photographs related to Finlay’s Garden (my herbal apothecary) and the natural world. And I also circulate words of inspiration and community-building projects from other individuals and organizations.

Here is a sample of posts from our Instagram account. We also frequently use Facebook and LinkedIn.

Finlay’s Garden - Herbal Apothecary & Etsy Shop

Inspired by my study of herbal medicine, I began this shop in 2018 to support the healing journey of others while growing my skills in herbal formulation, marketing, communication, and online retail.

In addition to three main and seasonal varieties of herb-infused honeys, I craft four herbal tea blends, rose glycerite, and grief bitters. While I purchase most of the organic herbs that I use, I have also foraged locally for sassafras root and white pine (both grow abundantly in this area).

The shop is named for - and inspired by - my first child Finlay, who died in childbirth in 2014.

Inviting Abundance Website

I manage our website, adding new content and updating our Upcoming Classes & Workshops listings as well as our Past Events page so that folks can get an idea of the work that we do. I created this Landing Page to link from our Instagram Account.

You can read more about My Story and view my Resume OR feel free to browse our pages to learn about our approach to Grief Work, Teaching/Learning Support, and Reiki Healing.